WORTHINGTON — Cottonwood County reported its 28th death due to complications from COVID-19 , according to the Minnesota Department of Health’s Tuesday morning update. The individual was between the ages of 80 and 84, and no other information is currently provided.
The death was one of 21 reported statewide on Tuesday, based on data that was current as of 4 a.m. Monday. Of the deaths, 16 individuals resided in private residences and five were residents of long-term care or assisted living facilities. One of the deaths occurred in April, one in September and 19 in October.
Meanwhile, another 5,686 Minnesota residents have tested positive for COVID-19 . Among them were 20 residents of Nobles County, 18 residents of Murray County, 12 residents of Cottonwood County, eight residents each in Rock and Jackson counties, and five residents of Pipestone County.
Since the virus was first detected in Minnesota, 8,457 residents have reportedly died from connected complications — including 4,709 individuals residing in long-term care or assisted living facilities. Meanwhile, there have been 763,915 confirmed and probable positive cases of the virus in the state, with 736,234 of those individuals no longer isolating.
Among Minnesota’s health care workers, 48,772 individuals have tested positive for the virus thus far.
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Following is current data on the virus in the far corner of southwest Minnesota:
Nobles County: 4,800 cases; 4,619 recovered; 52 deaths; 65.6% of residents aged 12 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Cottonwood County: 1,952 cases; 1,834 recovered; 28 deaths; 61% vaccinated.
Jackson County: 1,456 cases; 1,390 recovered; 14 deaths; 56.2% vaccinated.
Murray County: 1,332 cases; 1,239 recovered; 10 deaths; 60.5% vaccinated.
Pipestone County: 1,323 cases; 1,262 recovered; 27 deaths; 55.1% vaccinated.
Rock County: 1,545 cases; 1,483 recovered; 19 deaths; 56.2% vaccinated.
MDH continues to track outbreaks in schools and long-term care facilities in the state, with information updated weekly on Thursdays. As of Oct. 14, Heron Lake-Okabena Secondary in Okabena, Murray County Central Elementary and Murray County Central Secondary in Slayton, Prairie Elementary and Worthington Middle School in Worthington, Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary in Hills and Luverne Senior High have outbreaks (five or more positive cases of the virus). Also, long-term care facilities with current outbreaks, as reported Oct. 14, include the Good Samaritan Society in Mountain Lake, Colonial Manor and Valley View Assisted Living in Lakefield, Crossroads Care Center in Worthington, Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, and the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.
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All Minnesota residents aged 12 and older are eligible for the coronavirus vaccine. The Nobles County Public Health department encourages all eligible individuals to seek vaccination. Private providers in Worthington include Access Family Medical Clinic/Avera Medical Group, Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Sanford Health, Sterling Drug and Walgreens. Contact Nobles County Public Health at 295-5213 if interested in receiving a vaccine or if you have questions regarding receiving a vaccine.
On Monday, the Iowa Department of Health reported 512,485 positive cases of COVID-19 since testing began, with 6,812 of those cases reported within the last seven days. Thus far, 6,748 deaths have been contributed to the virus in the state. As of Monday, 562 individuals were hospitalized with complications from COVID-19, with another 135 patients in Intensive Care Units in the state. Of those patients in ICU, 83.2% were not fully vaccinated against the virus, while 77.1% of hospitalized individuals were not fully vaccinated.
In northwest Iowa, the number of positive cases in the last seven days, along with the percentage of fully vaccinated residents aged 12 and older are as follows:
Dickinson County: 60 cases; 60.2% fully vaccinated.
Lyon County: 34 cases; 44.9% fully vaccinated.
Osceola County: 22 cases; 48.2% fully vaccinated.
Johns Hopkins University reports a nationwide cumulative total of 45,059,288 positive cases of COVID-19 as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, with 2,754,485 of those cases reported in the last 28 days. Thus far, 726,439 Americans have died from the virus, including 48,993 people in the last 28 days.
The Minnesota Department of Health continues to ask people to stay home if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and/or are awaiting test results, and to practice universal precautions including washing hands with soap (for 20 seconds), social distancing, and avoiding crowded or confined spaces.
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